Orchestra celebrates 30th anniversary

By Yixiang Zeng

A music prodigy with only one hand won public acclaim on Saturday at a concert organised by Harrow’s Trinity Orchestra.

The event was a celebration to mark the Orchestra’s 30th anniversary, as well as helping to showcase some of the country’s most talented young musicians from the Royal College of Music.

21-year-old pianist Nicholas McCarthy, who plays with just his left hand, was among the many performers at the Trinity Church on Hindes Road.

He said: “It was the first time I have played this piece with an Orchestra, I was very pleased because it’s such a good Orchestra to play with. The reaction from the audience was good as well.”

Nicholas performed Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, a piece that was composed specifically for a one-hand pianist.

Another highlight was 16-year-old composer Nick White, who had been commissioned to write a piece called Bugle to mark the Orchestra’s special occasion.

The music director of the Orchestra, Michael Murray, told The HA1: “The concert is not only to celebrate the past 30 years, but also to show the talent for the next 30 years. We want to have young performers and composers who can work with us.”

A particular success on the night was a performance of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, which requires a large Orchestra.

Peter Farrell, 64, a piano teacher from Hertfordshire, said: It’s absolutely fantastic and wonderful, the standard is exceptional.

“I think the Planets is an extremely difficult Orchestra piece, the technique and the music. All the players are exceptional for a local Orchestra.”

Harrow Orchestra story

By Yixiang Zeng

A music prodigy with only one-hand won public acclaim yesterday at a concert organised by Trinity Orchestra in Harrow.

The event was a celebration of the Orchestra's 30th anniversary with the aim to showcase the country's most talented young musicians from the Royal College of Music in London.

Nicholas McCarthy, the 21-year-old pianist who only has a left-hand, is among one of many who showed their talent on Saturday night.

He said: “It was my first time to play this piece with an Orchestra, I was very pleased because it's such a good Orchestra to play with. The audience has good reaction as well.”

Nicholas performed Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, a piece composed specifically for a one-hand pianist.

Another highlight at the event was young composer Nick White, the 16-year-old from the college's junior department, who has been commissioned for the opening piece called Bugle to mark the groups' special occasion.

He said in his own note the main melody for 'Bugle' came while improvising at the piano, “I wanted to explore the more 'solo' aspect of the orchestra in this piece, so most of the melodies here are played by one instrument at a time.”



The music director of the Orchestra Michael Murray told The HA1: “The concert is not only to celebrate the past 30 years, but also to show the talent for the next 30 years. We want to have young performers and composers who can work with us.”

The best part of the concert was when the Orchestra performed Gustav Holst's The Planets, which requires a large Orchestra.

Peter Farrell, 64, a piano teacher from Hertfordshire, said: It's absolutely fantastic and wonderful, the standard is exceptional. I think the Planets is an extremely difficult Orchestra piece, the technique and the music. All the players are exceptional for the local Orchestra.”

Battle of Britain Memorial Concert story

by Yixiang Zeng

Hundreds of visitors attended Battle of Britain Memorial Concert yesterday to raise money for St Luke's Hospice and the RAF Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust.

The concert, held in Bentley Priory in Stanmore - the headquarters of Fighter Command during the WWII, also aimed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and commemorate those who died in the battle against the Nazis.

Erica Ferguson, 43, executive consultant of the Trust, said the money raised from the concert is just a small part of the £2 million the organisation wants to raise in order to improve the educational facilities of the museum, a Grade II listed mansion house in Bentley Priory.

Pam Russell, 48, director of Fundraising of St Luke's Hospice, said: “Some of the proceeds go to the hospice, and we probably made about more than £10,000.”

Couple of bands who performed during the concert, such as The British Airways Brass Band, children's choir Voice in a Million, and Harrow Apollo Male Choirs, reminded around 500 guests about the old days.

Peter Schiavi, 70, of Pinner told The HA1 the concert let him remember “the metal of sheltering, and the soldiers”, he said:“It's an excellent concert, bringing back a lot of memories, things you know, should not be forgotten.”

The 94-year-old Blenheim gunner, Owen Burns, from the 235 squadron who served in the battle, said: “I've been here for many times, it's always lovely to be here, this was the heart of the people who ran the war and who followed Fighter Command.”